You are here

Three Arguments That Prove That Christianity is Not of this World

Something very important happened 2000 years ago. It came with an ultimate promise of never-ending life. Was this from God or a human deception? If a group of people got together and invented Christianity, then ignoring it is fair, but if the origin of Christianity is the act of God, then we better pay close attention as this is our only chance. Here are three compelling arguments that Christianity is not of this world.

Christianity, is the only way of life from all religions that has objective arguments supporting its non-human and unearthly origin. That means the origin is from God and we better take this seriously. Here are three basic arguments. Each argument will end with a question for pondering.

1. The first argument - the easiest, requiring no special historical knowledge. Unlike other religions, Christianity began with the monstrous persecution. The leader was crucified, one of the 12 desciples betrayed him, and the rest of them (except John) were executed. Yet people were following. Until the year 313 ten waves of monstrous persecutions hit Christians. Roman historian of the 1st century Cornelius Tacitus writes that Emperor Nero placed Christians at stakes in his gardens and burned; serving also as torches for the spectators, when the day was over. The most popular persecution was throwing Christians to the lions. – Let’s imagine a similar situation these days.

QUESTIONS: who would go to join this religion? Who would want to sacrifice his or her life for a religion about which nothing is virtually known. How could Christianity survive if most followers are killed in such hideous ways? Let historians try to explain this. Acts of Apostles describes what happened to those who sincerely accepted the faith in Jesus. Many of them were immediately given the gifts of miracles, prophecy and healing. But most importantly, they received such knowledge of God in their souls that removed all fear of torment and suffering.

Therefore, without recognition of the fact that this religion God himself acted, enlivened and encouraged his people is it possible to understand the existence of Christianity today?

2 . Second argument – Doctrinal. It is the most extensive. Basic Christian truths like Trinity and Incarnation fundamentally differ from all analogues of Judaism and paganism of the era in which Christianity was born . We know about Jesus from the writings of uneducated, remotely-provincial fishermen who were the Gospel writers. They simply stated and wrote what they had seen, heard and experienced. They stated and did not invent. These were often things that they themselves did not understand. They were not even really literate. And all of the sudden, they write about things and truths about which philosophers and thinkers of all ages come in bewilderment (like “Kingdom of God is Within You”).

Question: Where did these truths come from? The only literate and learned person among them was Paul, but he said openly and with stunning clarity: “but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” 1 Cor. 1:23 – How do you reconcile all of these together?

3 . Third Argument - the spiritual and moral. Ask the following question to any religion. Who is saved from a religious point of view? Everyone will answer you: “those who fulfill the requirements of that religion and keep the commandments.” But in Christianity NO such a thing. What requirement fulfilled the criminal on the cross whom Jesus said “today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) What commandment did he keep? He was a convicted criminal and acknowledged it. Who baptized him? Communion was just instituted a day before the Crucifixion and only the apostles took it. A criminal, felon and he is the first to go to heaven. In this sense, Christianity is an anti-religious religion. Think about it. How come? Where does this come from? All of His students were Jews, grown up in Jewish religious law. How could they preach something like this the followers, even when their Master was crucified?

These are objective things. Regardless of your faith in Jesus Christ, it will be useful for you to think about them because your life is at stake.

And yes. Perhaps the origin of Christianity is found elsewhere, wherever you may think, but certainly of Christianity is not from this world. It simply contradicts the worldly logic.

I mostly translated and paraphrased the above writing from the writings of Aleksei Osipov, a well known Russian Orthodox theologian, professor and lecturer from Moscow Orthodox Theological Seminary.

Comments

1 could be used to help prove a number of groups.Groups like the Jonestown Group.The Al-Qaeda.Even Hitlers most loyal followers And other groups too.Some people will choose to remain endlessly loyal quite happily,no matter what other people may try to do to them.No matter what hardships they are forced to face.Just consider places like Lebanon, for one instance
2 can be explained in part by understanding that the Christian faith was actually adapted from stories that had already existed within other faiths.Study the Egyptian myth in regard to Horus.You'll find just how many similarities there are.
3 is quite easily understood if one thinks about the time when Christianity evolved.Back in those days religion had been extremely burdensome.Sometimes people had even been fully expected to need to sacrifice their own flesh and blood in religious rituals.Those times were indeed very ripe for change.It were much like a dramatic change of government happening someplace,where economical suffering had helped drive people, to decide to come out in droves to all cast their vote